Carbouizihg apparatus



Sept; 17, 1929. G. w. WALLACE cmsomzme APPARATUS Filed March 15. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet p 17, 1929- G. w. WALLACE 1,728,582

CARBONIZING APPARATUS .6. [K/l/aziaz;

Sept. 17, 1929.

G. w. WALLACE CARBONIZING APPARATUS Filed March 15. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 p G. w. WALLACE 1,728,582

CARBONI Z ING APPARATUS Filed March 15. 1927 5Sheetse-She'e't 4 gwumto'a m1, f a l" ZQW Sept. 17, 1929 G. w. WALLAQE CARBONIZING APPARATUS Filed March 15. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M/I LLK Q m Q BY 1/0299? 24,

Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE GEORGE W. WALLACE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE S. E. COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELA'WARE CARBONIZING APPARATUS Application filed March 15, 1927.

This invention relates to carbonizing apparatus; and it comprises an apparatus of the shaft kiln type for producing oil from shale, carbonizing coal, etc., having a vertical shaft adapted to be charged through an opening in its top and provided with an inclined bottom, together with a power operated door for closing an opening in the side wall of the carbonizing chamber adjacent its inclined bottom and at an acute angle thereto, the said door being formed with a grate in communication with the interior of the carbonizing chamber and a chamber exterior of said grate, the said chamber having an inclined bottom serving for discharging spent shale from the chamber and for conveying liquids draining downward to a discharge pipe; said invention further contemplating the provision of a separable oonnection between the discharge pipe and the chamber of said door whereby, when the door is in position to cover the opening in the wall of the carbonizing chamber, a liquid and gas-tight connection is effected between the chamber and discharge pipe to prevent leakage; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

In various methods of producing oil from shale, low temperature carbonization of coal and the like, operation is on successive charges or batches of material, carbonized one after another in a down shaft vertical kiln. In apparatus of this type it is a desideratum to be able to remove a spent charge of material quickly and completely and be in a position to take care of another charge. The present invention is intended to provide for quick removal of spent charges and;-

ent invention is particularly applicable to Serial No. 175,599.

apparatus of the types of those used in carryng out the processes described and claimed in my prior Patent No. 1,536,696 of May 5, 1925. In the present invention a vertical shaft is provided with an inclined bottom and with means for dumping a charge opening into the side of the shaft near the bottom and having a power operated door. This door is formed with a grate and with chamber space for collecting liquids, the collected liquids being delivered to a discharge main through a separable connection broken when the door is raised but otherwise sealed against escape of gas and liquids. With the door in place down-draining liquids (oils and tars) go to the vertex of the acute angle formed by door and bottom; and are thence removed.

In the accompanying illustration I have shown, more or less diagrammatically, certain embodiments of the present invention.

In this showing,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a series of carbonizing chambers showing the doors in raised and lowered positions, and operating either by hydraulic pressure or by compressed air;

Fig. 2 is an end view, partly in section, showing a battery of carbonizing chambers the bottoms of which are inclined downwardly toward each other; this being for the purpose of dumping exhausted charges of material treated into cars or other means for its disposal;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view, taken along line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail View of the bottom of a carbonizing chamber taken in vertical section and'showing a modified structure wherein the grate and vapor chamber are located in the inclined bottom of the carbonizing chamber instead of inth'e sliding door;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a. modified form of gas-tight connection between the vapor chamber and discharge pipe; and,

Fig. 7 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in cross section, illustrating means for recovering heat energy from waste shale.

' The door is composed of a grate 7, presented to the interior of the carbonizing chamber, and a vapor chamber 8 exterior of the grate to receive vapors and liquids condensed during the process. From 8, these are delivered to a discharge pipe 9 and go to main 10. The bottoms of the vapor chambers and connecting :parts are inclined downwardly to permit gravity flow to main 10.

Pipe connection 12 projects from the lower part of the vapor chamber 8 and carries at its end flange 13. The face of the flange 13 is beveled, as is also the face of a corresponding flange 14 on pipe 9, connecting therewith, this providing a cam surface so that when the pipe 12 is brought into alignment with pipe 9 on closing of door 5, the action of the complementary cam faces forms a tight joint and an efficient seal against escape of gases and liquids.

A modification of this gas-tight joint is shown in Fig. 6 wherein pipe 20 communieating with the vapor chamber 21 in the sliding door, is formed with a flange 22 which, when the door is in closed position, abuts a similar flange 23 formed on the end of discharge pipe 24. During the operation of the earbonizing chamber the flanges 22 and 23 are coupled together by a split clamp 25. A valve 26 in pipe 24 controls the flow of vapors and condensate as in the other embodiment of my invention.

The doors 5 can be operated by any suitable power means. As here shown, hydraulic power is used- Water under pressure isadmitted to a cylinder 15. By manipulating valve 16the water is admitted through ports 17 or 18 to raise or lower the door. Any other desirable power means, such as compressed air or eleetricity, may be used.

As shown in Fig. 5 the combined grate and vapor chamber 5" is mounted in the inclined floor 3 of the carbonizing chamber, thus dispensing with the necessity of placing it in the slidable door 19. This construction is particularly adapted for use'where the materials treated form either clinker or coke when heated. l

The carbonizing chambers shown may be operated in various ways, the chargeeremow ing means illustrated being useful whatever the process used in carbonizing. Generally however the carbonizing chamber. operates thereafter propagated downwardly as a trav- I cling zone, the progress of the zone being regulated by control of the draft currents admitted at 30 and 31. In aiding this control and to secure certain other results, either the air or the gas, or both, may be diluted with steam or products of combustion. These act as endothermic agents and have certain other results. As the traveling Zone of carbonization goes downward the gases and vapors formed flow downward ahead of it into and through the relatively cooler material, preheating this material. As their fiow is away from the hot zone, secondary decomposition can be avoided'to as great an extent as may be desired.

After the shale, or coal, or whatever may be treated in the apparatus, has been completely carbonized it is necessary to remove the spent material. This spent material may be ash or carbon according to the material operated upon, the apparatus being applicable to carbonizing coal, peat and wood, to make carbonaceous fuel as well as to the extraction of oil from shale. lVhen the carbonizing operation is complete residueremaining in the carbonizing chamber is discharged by raising the door 5. An advan 'ageous arrangement of the carbonizmg chambers 1S shown in Fig. 2. In this show ing, a continuation of the inclined bottom of ingthe heating value of the hot residue. It

comprises a traveling grate 21 positioned on suitable supporting elements 22 disposed between the carbonizing chambers 1 and below I the inclined bottoms 3. The discharge pit defined between the carbonizing chambers is covered with an arched roof 23 which serves to prevent loss of heat and hot gases.

A fan, stack, or similar means, indicated.

by the reference numeral 24, is employed to create a draft which draws the hotgases from the discharged shale to a waste heat boiler,"

or other suitable means, for utilizing the energy thus collected. Air may be intro duced to thehot discharged material to burn carbon therein, thereby generating an additional amount of heat, which is utilized in the manner indicated. The waste material may be removed continuously by operation of the continuously moving grate conveyor. This construction possesses not only the advantage of conserving energy that otherwise would be lost, but it eliminates the liberation of smoke and dust.

What I claim is:

1. Carbonizing apparatus for treating shale and the like which comprises a vertical shaft kiln having vertical side walls, an in clined bottom extending therebetween, one side Wall being formed with an opening adja* cent the lowermostpoint of said bottom, a door slidably mounted to cover and uncover said opening, said door comprising a grate presented to the interior of said chamber and a vapor collecting compartment exterior thereof, and means, operable when the door is in position to cover the opening directly com municating with said compartment for conducting liquids and vapors therefrom to a point below said compartment and exterior the vertical shaft kiln.

2. Carbonizing apparatus for treating shale and the like which comprises an upright closed chamber having opposed vertical side Walls, a removable closure in one side wall of said chamber adjacent the bottom thereof, said closure consisting of an oil receptacle having a lateral outlet and a grate covering said receptacle, and means for moving said closure to a position for discharging the contents oi said chamber, the edge of the closure being adapted to make a tight fit against the bottom Wall of the chamber.

a 3. Carbonizing apparatus for treating shale and the like comprising a top-fired shaft having vertical side Walls, a door in one of the side walls adjacent a low point thereof and an inclined bottom at an acute angle to said door and low point in said side wall, and means for collecting and removing liquids draining down to the vertex of said angle, said means comprising a chamber within the door.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

GEORGE W. WALLACE. 

